Coming in 2018: New supermarkets, another election, the last Muncie Gras

Hundreds of customers talk to vendors and shop at the grand opening of Kroger's first Muncie Pay Less store on Dec. 14 at the new location along McGalliard Road. Kroger invested about $3.8 million in the location on updates, fixtures and technology.(Photo: Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press)Buy Photo

Feb. 12: The first of two Muncie men charged in the "execution" of another local resident is set to stand trial on Feb. 12. Alonzo Williams, 25, will be tried in Delaware Circuit Court 5. Williams and Jeremy "J.T." Holland, 31, are charged with murder in the slaying of 39-year-old Jeffrey D. Brown, whose body was found in a field north of Inlow Springs Road last Feb. 14. Authorities said Brown's hands were tied behind his back and he had been shot multiple times. Holland has a March 12 trial date.

Feb. 26: Marcus "Jefe" Holland, 23, is set to stand trial, on murder and other charges, on Feb. 26 in Delaware Circuit Court 5. Those charges stem from the slaying, last Feb. 9, of 20-year-old Zackary Mason Farmer, who was fatally shot in an apartment in the 800 block of West Main Street.

Feb. 26: Also on Feb. 26, James T. Cole, a 26-year-old Muncie man, is set to stand trial in Delaware Circuit Court 4 on six felony charges, including attempted murder, in a November 2013 robbery at First Merchants Bank at Nebo Road and Jackson Street. Last February, Cole — who had fled from Indiana while awaiting trial — was captured in Columbia.

March: Muncie's second new Pay Less supermarket, at the site of the former Marsh at 715 S. Tillotson Ave., is expected to open in March, Kroger announced in October.

March 14: Contracts for the Tiger Drive bridge project in Yorktown are scheduled to be let March 14, with work to begin a month later. The $2.4 million project will widen the bridge, adding an 8-foot-wide pedestrian multi-use path on the east side, plus new lighting and a trail under the bridge. During construction, a traffic signal will be installed to allow alternating one-way traffic, so get ready for delays (or find an alternate route)

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The Tiger Drive bridge carries traffic over the White River in Yorktown.(Photo: Jordan Kartholl / The Star Press)

March 24:The last-ever Muncie Gras will be Saturday, March 24 in downtown Muncie. Officials said in November the annual outdoor party was ending because, after 17 years, it had "served its purpose." For the final Muncie Gras, the event will move from Walnut Street to the Canan Commons greenspace.

March 26: William C. Balfour II, 18, is set to stand trial March 26, in Delaware Circuit Court 1, on murder and robbery charges stemming from the July 2015 slaying of Christian Michael Orebaugh. The teenager was shot to death in his West 23rd Street home.

April or May: The Fresh Thyme supermarket going up along McGalliard Road was expected to be ready to open in the spring, economic development officials said in August. A water line issue delayed the start of construction last summer, pushing the likely opening date later than the original forecast of January.

May 8: Polls will be open 6 a.m.-6 p.m. May 8 for Primary Election Day. Offices on the ballot in Delaware County this year will include the District 6 Congressional seat, Indiana Senate Districts 25 and 26 and Indiana House Districts 31, 32, 33, 34 and 35. Local offices up for election include Delaware County sheriff, judge of Circuit Court 2, prosecutor, county clerk, auditor, recorder, coroner, assessor, District 3 Delaware County commissioner seat, all four district seats on Delaware County Council, Center Township trustee and other township offices and three seats on Yorktown Town Council.

Summer: Construction of the Dr. Don Shondell Practice Center at Ball State University is expected to be completed by the summer, a year after ground was broken. The 19,000-square-foot center, funded entirely with private gifts through the Cardinal Commitment Campaign, will be attached to Worthen Arena.

The Don Shondell Practice Center will be attached to the north side of Worthen Arena.(Photo: Ball State)

July 11-21: Delaware County Fair; 4-H events July 11-18, midway open July 16-21. Information: delawarecountyfair.net/

Oct. 4-6: A new downtown Muncie event, DWNTWN WKND, is planned for three days in October, beginning with the First Thursday gallery walk, followed on Friday by Upstairs DWNTWN, with "speakeasy"-themed receptions in upstairs spaces in downtown buildings, and a Hootenanny music festival Saturday with Flynnville Train, Kentucky Headhunters, "rustic" food and drinks and ax throwing. Downtown Development Partnership announced the new event in November.

Nov. 6: Polls will be open 6 a.m.-6 p.m. Nov. 6 for General Election Day. In addition to the races included in the spring primary, the fall election will include school board races, including two seats on the Muncie Community School Board.